Viva Las Vegas
It’s that time of year. The go-to-Vegas-and-spend-the-kids’-milk-money weekend. Really, we don’t have kids and we’re paying someone to stay at the house to watch our four-legged critters, so no one need call Children Services or Animal Services or any other Services. Don’t try to rob us either. Our house sitter can kick your butt and we have ADT and we don’t own anything since I won’t let the hubby get the plasma TV he wants and we have the nosiest neighbors on the planet….just trust me when I say it’s a waste of your time.
I love vacations that amount to little more than eating, sunning, spa-ing, eating, gambling and more eating. All of this relaxation allows for a great deal of reading and lounging (look, I found more "ing" words). Between the flight and all that pool time, there is plenty of time for reading by the pool, which also means less time for the the really fun stuff like, say, hanging out in the casino gym or exercising in any manner. No, Vegas is for spending money, relaxing and reading.
The following books will be in my bag - and, yeah, I know I’m only there for 5 days - and ready for their turn off the TBR pile:
1. Jamie by Lori Foster - It’s her last book in a series and I love to finish off a series.
2. Bad Boys Down Under by Nancy Warren - My editor told me to drag this one off the pile and read it. She could tell me to read Proust and I’d probably do it. Or, I’d pretend I did and pay some high school kid for the notes.
3. The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje - Tod and Wendy and my hubby and a bunch of others gave me crap on a blog entry some time back for not having read this book. And, when I said I hated the movie, well, you would have thought I squashed a kitty or something. Fine. I live to make others happy. Whether this thing will ever see the outside of my bag is a question, but it is going on a nice trip.
4. Beach Blanket Bad Boys by L.L. Miller, A. Kent, J. Shalvis, S. Carr, L. Monroe and M. Leigh - Been waiting for this one. Had to skip lunch to run out and buy it. That’s a commitment. Trust me.
5. Just One Look by Harlan Coben - I always take one non-romance and The English Patient doesn’t really count since I’m reading it under protest and may just lie and say I did even though I know Tod will try to quiz me, so… I need something else. Usually I dig into hubby’s stash of boring stuff. The only thing I saw was The Kite Runner. Frankly, he gave me a daily account of this book while he read it and I’ll slit my wrists if I try to read it on vacation or any other time. The goal is relaxation, not weeping.
So, enjoy the holiday weekend. I plan to.
May 28th, 2005 at 10:02 am
Have a good time. I really mean that. Don’t think of me being alone fending for myself. Is there a protection agency for abandoned writing partners?
May 29th, 2005 at 5:23 am
Wooo! Have a great vacation, HelenKay. Sounds like a good time to me.
Except for The English Patient. Oh, HelenKay, I pity the fool who has to read that at any time, much less during a Las Vegas vacation. But then you love Linda Howard, so who knows what other abominations you may enjoy….
May 30th, 2005 at 12:13 pm
lol, Candy. I enjoyed The English Patient though that was many years ago and I might feel differently about it now. The primary romance is a bit overblown, but I did like the secondary romance and the rest of the story.
May 30th, 2005 at 1:50 pm
I just finished Jamie by Lori Foster and thought it was great. She really is a powerful writer.
May 30th, 2005 at 5:38 pm
Y’know, I’m pretty sure I’m the only freak who doesn’t like The English Patient. It’s not that I don’t think the story is bad or anything; it was the florid, self-conscious writing style that just drove me batty.
Until I met Sarah, I was pretty sure I was the only freak who didn’t like Linda Howard, too….
May 30th, 2005 at 5:58 pm
I know of a lot of people who don’t like Ondaatje’s style. I don’t think you’re alone, Candy. I certainly have to be in the mood — and it’s been a few years since I’ve felt the urge to read him. Hence his latest book has sat on my shelves for a long, long time.
(Now, curious if HelenKay picked up The English Patient!)
June 1st, 2005 at 8:57 pm
Jorie - While The English Patient had a lovely vacation and fairly unevnentful trip cross-country, alas it did not see the light of day. Really, the book appeared content to sit in my bag so I did not disturb it. Instead, I read all the other books and paged through the ones the hubby brought along. When I got close to running out of reading material, I bought a few more magazines. Now that I’m back, I will have to pick it up and read it. But, if you want to know anything about Angelina and Brad, I’m your woman. I’ve read all about them for days.
Candy - seems to me it’s time for you to revsist Linda Howard. Clearly you are not appreciating her skills and that has me concerned. Probably has soemthing to do with all that animal crap you;re reading.
June 2nd, 2005 at 4:46 am
HAVE FUN!!!